Safe, Audiologist-Approved Ear Cleaning Tips
At Hearvana Audiology, we are a trusted hearing clinic serving Thornhill, Vaughan, and surrounding GTA communities. We offer both mobile and in-clinic services, including free hearing tests, ear cleaning done by professionals, and comprehensive hearing assessments.
If you’ve ever reached for a cotton swab to clean your ears…you are not alone!
Most people grow up using Q-tips without realizing they can actually make earwax problems worse.
As an audiologist and founder of Hearvana Audiology, a modern hearing clinic based in Thornhill and Vaughan, I see this every single week, blocked ears, muffled hearing, pressure, ringing, all which can be caused by well-intended but unsafe cleaning habits.
Let’s talk about how you can safely clean your ears instead.
Why You Should Never Put Anything Inside Your Ear Canal
Your ears are self-cleaning. Wax naturally migrates outward on its own. When you insert cotton swabs or other objects, you often push wax deeper, increasing blockage and irritation. This can cause hearing loss, pressure, tinnitus, dizziness, and ear pain.
The Only Safe Ways to Clean Your Ears
1. Clean Only the Outside
Use a warm damp washcloth to gently wipe the outer ear and canal opening only.
2. Use Ear Drops if Wax Feels Stuck
Try saline, mineral oil, olive oil, or wax-softening drops. Use 2–3 drops and allow gravity to help. Hearvana loves holistic drops that help with ear wax accumulation and inflammation in the ears, ask us about them!
3. Get Your Ear Professionally Cleaned
Professional ear cleaning is the safest and most thorough option. We offer expert ear cleaning services, free hearing tests, and hearing evaluations at our Thornhill clinic or via mobile audiology services across Vaughan and the GTA.
What to Avoid
Avoid cotton swabs, ear candling, hairpins, DIY suction devices, and aggressive flushing. All these methods won’t safely clean your ears, and can actually cause more damage.
When Should You See an Audiologist?
Book an appointment if you notice hearing changes, fullness, ringing, dizziness, pain, or hearing aid feedback.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, breaking the Q-tip habit is tough, we’ve all been there. But trust me, your ears will be so much happier if you just let them do their natural thing and leave the inside alone. If things are feeling clogged, muffled, or just plain uncomfortable, don’t try to play DIY doctor in your bathroom. Let us handle it, we’ve dealt with stubborn earwax many times before.
At Hearvana Audiology, we offer the following services:
- Safe earwax cleaning
- Free hearing tests
- Comprehensive hearing evaluations
- Mobile audiology services
- Personalized hearing solutions